The era of traditional copper landlines in the UK is coming to an end as the country transitions to Digital Voice services by January 2027. This shift will phase out the old copper-wire phone network, with households expected to make calls through their broadband connections.
This transition represents a significant change in UK communications, with BT’s Openreach network implementing the “Stop Sell” program to expedite the move away from outdated infrastructure. Under this initiative, providers like BT, Sky, Plusnet, and TalkTalk will no longer offer new copper-based broadband and phone services in affected areas.
Openreach has already introduced Stop Sell notifications in many parts of the UK and is now expanding the program to cover 238 exchange locations and approximately 1.69 million premises. Customers will be required to switch to full fibre broadband and digital phone services once the changes take effect.
According to Openreach, the Stop Sell program is activated when 75% of premises connected to an exchange have access to ultrafast Full Fibre. By early June, the rules will apply to 1,432 exchanges nationwide, impacting around 14.2 million properties.
James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, emphasized the importance of the Stop Sell program in driving the UK towards a modern full fibre future. The focus is on transitioning people to newer, more reliable technologies as the legacy copper network becomes outdated.
Digital Voice, BT’s advanced home phone service, offers modern features like Multi Call and three-way calling through broadband technology. Upgrading to Digital Voice should not disrupt how households use their phones, as the service cost is bundled with broadband in a single package without any additional charges.